Young Assembly Speaker Stuns Kwara APC in Surprising Primary Upset
In the lead-up to the APC governorship primary in Kwara State, Ambassador Abdulfatai Seriki-Gambari seemed unbeatable. Eight contenders stepped down to back him and the state governor publicly endorsed his candidacy. Yet on Friday 22 May 2026, 41-year-old Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu scored a shock victory with 94,990 votes, far ahead of Seriki-Gambari’s 41,700. An engineer by training and two-time member of the state assembly, he has served as Speaker since 2019. Danladi-Salihu’s win makes him one of Nigeria’s youngest governorship candidates ahead of the 2027 elections. It also underscores the impact of the amended Electoral Act, which empowered ordinary party members to decide the outcome.
Use The App To Win ₦1m
Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.